US2021388377A1PendingUtilityA1

Phi-4 polypeptides and methods for their use

Assignee: PIONEER HI BRED INTPriority: Mar 15, 2013Filed: Jun 18, 2021Published: Dec 16, 2021
Est. expiryMar 15, 2033(~6.7 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
C12N 15/8286Y02A40/146C07K 2319/02A01N 37/46C07K 14/32C07K 14/21A01N 43/50C07K 14/195C07K 14/24C07K 14/245
76
PatentIndex Score
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Claims

Abstract

Compositions and methods for controlling pests are provided. The methods involve transforming organisms with a nucleic acid sequence encoding an insecticidal protein. In particular, the nucleic acid sequences are useful for preparing plants and microorganisms that possess insecticidal activity. Thus, transformed bacteria, plants, plant cells, plant tissues and seeds are provided. Compositions are insecticidal nucleic acids and proteins of bacterial species. The sequences find use in the construction of expression vectors for subsequent transformation into organisms of interest, as probes for the isolation of other homologous (or partially homologous) genes. The insecticidal proteins find use in controlling, inhibiting growth or killing lepidopteran, coleopteran, dipteran, fungal, hemipteran, and nematode pest populations and for producing compositions with insecticidal activity.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . A PHI-4 polypeptide having improved insecticidal activity compared to AXMI-205 (SEQ ID NO: 35). 
     
     
         2 . The PHI-4 polypeptide of  claim 1 , wherein the PHI-4 polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence of the formula, 
       
         
           
                 
                 
               
                   (SEQ ID NO: 3) 
                     
                 
                                   5                   10                  15 
                     
                 
                   Met Xaa Ser Ala Ala Asn Ala Gly Xaa Leu Gly Asn Leu Xaa Gly 
                 
                     
                 
                                   20                  25                  30 
                 
                   Xaa Thr Ser Xaa Gly Met Xaa Tyr Xaa Val Asn Gly Leu Tyr Ala 
                 
                     
                 
                                   35                  40                  45 
                 
                   Ser Pro Glu Ser Leu Xaa Gly Gln Pro Leu Phe Xaa Xaa Gly Gly 
                 
                     
                 
                                   50                  55                  60 
                 
                   Xaa Leu Asp Ser Xaa Xaa Ile Glu Gly Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Phe Pro 
                 
                     
                 
                                   65                  70                  75 
                 
                   Xaa Ser Met His Val His Thr Tyr Phe His Ser Asp Xaa Xaa Gln 
                 
                     
                 
                                   80                  85                  90 
                 
                   Xaa Val Ser Xaa Xaa Ile Xaa Xaa Xaa Arg Xaa Xaa Xaa Ser Xaa 
                 
                     
                 
                                   95                  100                 105 
                 
                   His Val Gly Xaa Ser Gly Xaa Xaa Xaa Leu Phe Ser Xaa Ser Xaa 
                 
                     
                 
                                   110                 115                 120 
                 
                   Ser Val Asp Xaa Thr Thr Xaa Xaa Gln Gln Leu Xaa Glu Ile Thr 
                 
                     
                 
                                   125                 130                 135 
                 
                   Xaa Ser Ser Thr Arg Glu Xaa His Val Leu Trp Tyr Ile Ser Leu 
                 
                     
                 
                                   140                 145                 150 
                 
                   Pro Gly Ala Ala Thr Leu Xaa Ser Met Leu Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa 
                 
                     
                 
                                   155                 160                 165 
                 
                   Xaa Asp Xaa Xaa Xaa Pro Asn Met Xaa Ala Met Xaa Leu Phe Xaa 
                 
                     
                 
                                   170                 175                 180 
                 
                   Xaa Xaa Gly Pro Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Ala Ala Val Gly Gly Arg 
                 
                     
                 
                                   185                 190                 195 
                 
                   Leu Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Ala Ser Lys Xaa Leu Xaa Met Xaa Ser Ser 
                 
                     
                 
                                   200                 205                 210 
                 
                   Xaa Ser Leu Ser Thr Thr Xaa Xaa Xaa Ser Xaa Xaa Ala Xaa Xaa 
                 
                     
                 
                                   215                 220                 225 
                 
                   Gly Glu Ile Xaa Ile Xaa His Gly Ser Xaa Met Glu Lys Gln Val 
                 
                     
                 
                                   230                 235                 240 
                 
                   Asn Ser Phe Xaa Xaa Xaa Ser Thr Ile Arg Xaa Thr Ala Thr Gly 
                 
                     
                 
                                   245                 250                 255 
                 
                   Gly Lys Pro Gly Xaa Thr Xaa Arg Ile Leu His Gly Pro Asp Ser 
                 
                     
                 
                                   260                 265                 270 
                 
                   Xaa Xaa Ala Phe Ser Xaa Trp Ala Xaa Ser Leu Leu Xaa Tyr Ala 
                 
                     
                 
                                   275                 280                 285 
                 
                   Thr Leu Met Asp Phe Xaa Thr Xaa Ser Leu Xaa Xaa Ile Xaa Ala 
                 
                     
                 
                                   290                 295                 300 
                 
                   Leu Xaa Asp Xaa Pro Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Glu Xaa Xaa Xaa Ala Xaa 
                 
                     
                 
                                   305                 310                 315 
                 
                   Pro Xaa Xaa Met Xaa Xaa Ser Gln Xaa Ser Ile Pro Xaa Val Asp 
                 
                     
                 
                                   320                 325                 330 
                 
                   Xaa Val Leu Leu Met Asp Ala Arg Pro Pro Met Val Xaa Ala Gly 
                 
                     
                 
                                   335                 340                 345 
                 
                   Xaa Asp Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Asp Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa 
                 
                     
                 
                                   350                 355                 360 
                 
                   Xaa Ser Thr Ser Xaa Xaa Tyr Lys Xaa Xaa Gly Gln Phe Xaa Gln 
                 
                     
                 
                                   365                 370                 375 
                 
                   Arg Xaa His Xaa Ser Val Ala Asp Gly His Xaa Pro Ile Xaa Xaa 
                 
                     
                 
                                   380                 385                 390 
                 
                   Asp Leu Phe Asp Xaa Gly Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Pro Val Gly Xaa Gln 
                 
                     
                 
                                   395                 400                 405 
                 
                   Xaa Val Trp Asp Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Gly Lys Xaa Xaa Xaa Tyr Xaa 
                 
                     
                 
                                   410                 415                 420 
                 
                   Cys Trp Arg Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Gln Gly Tyr Xaa Xaa Xaa Gly Asp 
                 
                     
                 
                                   425                 430                 435 
                 
                   Val Xaa Met Leu Ala Xaa Ser Gly Tyr Asn Pro Pro Asn Leu Pro 
                 
                     
                 
                                   440                 445                 450 
                 
                   Xaa Xaa Xaa Cys Xaa His Xaa Ser Leu Xaa Ala Xaa Xaa Xaa Thr 
                 
                     
                 
                                   455                 460                 465 
                 
                   Leu Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Trp Xaa Asp Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa 
                 
                     
                 
                                   470                 475                 480 
                 
                   Xaa Val Ser Leu Trp Xaa Pro Gly Ala Ala Gly Ala Val Ala Ser 
                 
                     
                 
                                   485                 490                 495 
                 
                   Ser Cys Phe Ala Gly Val Pro Asn Tyr Asn Asn Pro Pro Asn Ser 
                 
                     
                 
                                   500                 505                 510 
                 
                   Gly Xaa Ile Xaa Xaa Leu Xaa Gly Ser Ile Ala Cys Val Xaa Thr 
                 
                     
                 
                                   515                 520                 525 
                 
                   Ser Ala Ile Ala Ser Met Xaa Xaa Met Xaa Ser Met Leu Ser Xaa 
                 
                     
                 
                                   530                 535 
                 
                   His Xaa Gly Met Glu Ala Met Met Ser Lys Leu, 
                 
             
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
         wherein 
         Xaa at position 2 is Ala or Arg; 
         Xaa at position 9 is Gln, Lys or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 14 is Pro or Ala; 
         Xaa at position 16 is Val or Asp; 
         Xaa at position 19 is Met or Leu; 
         Xaa at position 22 is Gly or Ser; 
         Xaa at position 24 is Asp, Asn or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 36 is Leu or Met; 
         Xaa at position 42 is Asp, Asn or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 43 is Phe or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 46 is Glu, Asp, Asn or Gly; 
         Xaa at position 50 is Ile or Val; 
         Xaa at position 51 is Glu or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 55 is Arg or Lys; 
         Xaa at position 56 is Ser or Thr; 
         Xaa at position 57 is Tyr or Phe; 
         Xaa at position 58 is Thr or Ser; 
         Xaa at position 61 is Arg, Lys or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 73 is Phe or Tyr; 
         Xaa at position 74 is Lys, Glu, Gly, Arg, Met, Leu, His or Asp; 
         Xaa at position 76 is Asp or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 79 is Lys or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 80 is Glu or Ser; 
         Xaa at position 82 is Glu, Ile, Leu, Tyr or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 83 is Glu or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 84 is Tyr or Phe; 
         Xaa at position 86 is Glu or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 87 is Lys or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 88 is Met, Ile or Leu; 
         Xaa at position 90 is Gln or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 94 is Val or Ile; 
         Xaa at position 97 is Arg, Asn, Asp, Glu, Gln, Gly or Ser; 
         Xaa at position 98 is Tyr or Phe; 
         Xaa at position 99 is Lys, Leu, Tyr, Ile, Met, Phe, Cys, Val or Asn; 
         Xaa at position 103 is Ala or Gly; 
         Xaa at position 105 is Leu or Ile; 
         Xaa at position 109 is Phe, Lys, Gly, Met, Ser, Asp, Asn, Glu, Cys, Ala or Arg; 
         Xaa at position 112 is Thr or Ser; 
         Xaa at position 113 is Asp, Glu or Met; 
         Xaa at position 117 is Thr or Ser; 
         Xaa at position 121 is Tyr or Phe; 
         Xaa at position 127 is Ala or Thr; 
         Xaa at position 142 is Arg or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 146 is Arg or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 147 is Arg, Glu or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 148 is Asp, Phe, Pro, Val, Glu, His, Trp, Ala, Arg, Leu, Ser, Gln or Gly; 
         Xaa at position 149 is Phe or Val; 
         Xaa at position 150 is Arg, Gln or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 151 is Asp, Ser, Ala, Asn, Trp, Val, Gln, Cys, Met, Leu, Arg or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 153 is Leu or Ile; 
         Xaa at position 154 is Asn or Asp; 
         Xaa at position 155 is Asn or Lys; 
         Xaa at position 159 is Pro or Asp; 
         Xaa at position 162 is Glu, Asp or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 165 is Lys, Glu, Gln, Pro, Thr, Ala, Leu, Gly, Asp, Val, His, Ile, Met, Trp, Phe, Tyr or Arg; 
         Xaa at position 166 is Arg or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 167 is Tyr, Trp or Cys; 
         Xaa at position 170 is Tyr or His; 
         Xaa at position 171 is Tyr or Phe; 
         Xaa at position 172 is Ile, Leu or Val; 
         Xaa at position 173 is Ser or Ala; 
         Xaa at position 174 is Glu or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 182 is Asp or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 183 is Tyr or Val; 
         Xaa at position 184 is Ser or Thr; 
         Xaa at position 185 is Ala or Ser; 
         Xaa at position 189 is Thr, Lys or Ile; 
         Xaa at position 191 is Lys or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 193 is Asp or Asn; 
         Xaa at position 196 is Gln, Lys, Asn, Asp, Glu, Ala, Ile or Arg; 
         Xaa at position 202 is Ala or Val; 
         Xaa at position 203 is Glu, Thr or His; 
         Xaa at position 204 is Met or Ala; 
         Xaa at position 206 is Tyr or Phe; 
         Xaa at position 207 is Lys or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 209 is Leu or Pro; 
         Xaa at position 210 is Val or Ile; 
         Xaa at position 214 is Lys, Ser or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 216 is Glu, Gln, Phe, Val, Tyr or Arg; 
         Xaa at position 220 is Glu, His, Asp, Thr, Tyr, Val, Ser, Gln, Arg, Trp, Met, Ala, Phe, Ile, Leu, Cys or Asn; 
         Xaa at position 229 is Arg or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 230 is Ser or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 231 is Asn or Ser; 
         Xaa at position 236 is Leu or Pro; 
         Xaa at position 245 is Met or Leu; 
         Xaa at position 247 is Asp or Tyr; 
         Xaa at position 256 is Gln, Lys or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 257 is Gln, Ile, Glu, Cys, Ser, His, Trp or Met; 
         Xaa at position 261 is Gln, Glu or Lys; 
         Xaa at position 264 is Glu or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 268 is Asp or Asn; 
         Xaa at position 276 is Ser or Ala; 
         Xaa at position 278 is Glu, Asn or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 281 is Gln, Lys or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 282 is Pro or Gly; 
         Xaa at position 284 is Trp or Arg; 
         Xaa at position 287 is Ala or Cys; 
         Xaa at position 289 is Lys, Leu, Val, Pro, Glu, Gln, Tyr, Thr, Asp, Phe, Ser, Met, Arg, Trp, Ile, His, Asn, Cys, Gly or Ala; 
         Xaa at position 291 is Glu or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 292 is Arg or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 293 is Arg, Glu or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 294 is Val or Ala; 
         Xaa at position 296 is Leu or Ile; 
         Xaa at position 297 is Glu or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 298 is Asp or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 300 is Phe or Tyr; 
         Xaa at position 302 is Glu or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 303 is Phe or Tyr; 
         Xaa at position 305 is Lys or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 306 is Gln or Lys; 
         Xaa at position 309 is Gln, Lys or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 313 is Lys, Gln or Arg; 
         Xaa at position 316 is Lys or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 328 is Lys, Glu or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 331 is Glu, Asn or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 333 is Ser, Arg, Gly, Lys, Val, Asn, Ala, His, Gln, Thr, Asp, Ile, Leu, Cys or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 334 is Gly, Arg, Lys, Ile or Trp; 
         Xaa at position 335 is Ser or Ala; 
         Xaa at position 336 is Gly or Ala; 
         Xaa at position 337 is Ala, Val or Gly; 
         Xaa at position 338 is Ser, His, Val, Lys, Ala, Gly, Thr, Ile, Glu, Met, Arg, Pro, Asp, Asn or Leu; 
         Xaa at position 339 is Glu, Asn, Gln, Ile, Pro, Met, Ser, Ala, Cys, Phe, Val, Leu, Asp, Trp, His or Arg; 
         Xaa at position 341 is Leu or Val; 
         Xaa at position 342 is Ala, Ser or Val; 
         Xaa at position 343 is Val or Ile; 
         Xaa at position 344 is Phe or Trp; 
         Xaa at position 345 is Asn or His; 
         Xaa at position 346 is Pro or Ala; 
         Xaa at position 350 is Asn or Ser; 
         Xaa at position 351 is Gly or Val; 
         Xaa at position 354 is Met or Leu; 
         Xaa at position 355 is Val, Ile or Leu; 
         Xaa at position 359 is Gly or Ala; 
         Xaa at position 362 is Asn or Ser; 
         Xaa at position 364 is Ala or Ser; 
         Xaa at position 371 is Ala, Gly or Thr; 
         Xaa at position 374 is Phe or Ile; 
         Xaa at position 375 is Lys or Arg; 
         Xaa at position 380 is Leu or Gly; 
         Xaa at position 382 is Val, Asp or Leu; 
         Xaa at position 383 is Leu, Ile or Val; 
         Xaa at position 384 is Lys, Ala or Gly; 
         Xaa at position 385 is Ala or Gly; 
         Xaa at position 389 is Trp or Tyr; 
         Xaa at position 391 is Arg, Leu, Glu, Gln or Asp; 
         Xaa at position 395 is Asp or Cys; 
         Xaa at position 396 is Ala, Leu, Lys, Asn, Gly, Ile, Met, Arg, Tyr, Gln or His; 
         Xaa at position 397 is Gly, Arg or Ala; 
         Xaa at position 398 is Ser, Gln or Cys; 
         Xaa at position 401 is Ser, His, Pro, Gly, Lys, Val, Arg, Ile, Asn, Phe, Thr, Ala, Asp, Met, Gln or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 402 is Lys, Phe, His, Arg, Trp, Gly, Asn, Leu, Tyr, Thr, Val, Met, Pro or Ala; 
         Xaa at position 403 is Asp, Tyr, Trp, Phe or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 405 is Ala or Ser; 
         Xaa at position 409 is Ala or Pro; 
         Xaa at position 410 is Ile or Val; 
         Xaa at position 411 is Pro or Ala; 
         Xaa at position 412 is Pro or Ala; 
         Xaa at position 416 is Arg, Glu or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 417 is Ala, Ser or Cys; 
         Xaa at position 418 is Leu or Met; 
         Xaa at position 422 is Met or Val; 
         Xaa at position 426 is Thr or Ser; 
         Xaa at position 436 is Asp or Lys; 
         Xaa at position 437 is Tyr or Val; 
         Xaa at position 438 is Val or Arg; 
         Xaa at position 440 is Val or Leu; 
         Xaa at position 442 is Gln, Lys or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 445 is Cys, Leu or Thr; 
         Xaa at position 447 is Asp, Lys, Tyr, Ser, Glu, Ile, Gly, Pro, Leu, Phe, Trp or Thr; 
         Xaa at position 448 is Val or Ala; 
         Xaa at position 449 is Gln or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 452 is Gln, Lys or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 453 is Asn or Asp; 
         Xaa at position 454 is Arg, Tyr, Met, Ser, Val, Ile, Lys, Phe, Trp, Gln, Gly, His, Asp, Leu, Thr, Pro or Asn; 
         Xaa at position 455 is Val or Ile; 
         Xaa at position 457 is Trp or Asn; 
         Xaa at position 459 is Lys, Met, Val, Trp, Gln, Ile, Thr, Ser, His, Cys, Tyr, Pro, Asn, Ala, Arg or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 460 is Gly or Ala; 
         Xaa at position 461 is Thr or Ser; 
         Xaa at position 462 is Gly or Ala; 
         Xaa at position 463 is Ala, Ser or Gly; 
         Xaa at position 464 is Arg, Gly, His, Gln, Thr or Phe; 
         Xaa at position 465 is Lys, Asn, Val, Met, Pro, Gly, Arg, Thr, His, Cys, Trp, Phe or Leu; 
         Xaa at position 466 is Asp or Arg; 
         Xaa at position 471 is Gln, Lys or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 497 is Asp or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 499 is Glu or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 500 is Arg, Gln or Lys; 
         Xaa at position 502 is Arg, Glu or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 509 is Lys, Gln or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 517 is Gln, Cys, Asn, Val or Pro; 
         Xaa at position 518 is Glu or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 520 is Lys, Gln or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 525 is Gln or Lys; and 
         Xaa at position 527 is Gln, Lys, Pro, Cys, Glu, Ser, His, Phe or Trp; wherein one or more amino acid(s) designated by Xaa in SEQ ID NO: 3 is an amino acid different from the corresponding amino acid of SEQ ID NO: 35 and wherein the PHI-4 polypeptide has increased insecticidal activity compared to SEQ ID NO: 35. 
       
     
     
         3 . The PHI-4 polypeptide of  claim 1 , wherein the PHI-4 polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence of the formula 
       
         
           
                 
                 
               
                   (SEQ ID NO: 4) 
                     
                 
                                   5                   10                  15 
                     
                 
                   Met Xaa Ser Ala Ala Asn Ala Gly Gln Leu Gly Asn Leu Pro Gly 
                 
                     
                 
                                   20                  25                  30 
                 
                   Val Thr Ser Met Gly Met Gly Tyr Xaa Val Asn Gly Leu Tyr Ala 
                 
                     
                 
                                   35                  40                  45 
                 
                   Ser Pro Glu Ser Leu Leu Gly Gln Pro Leu Phe Xaa Xaa Gly Gly 
                 
                     
                 
                                   50                  55                  60 
                 
                   Xaa Leu Asp Ser Ile Glu Ile Glu Gly Arg Ser Tyr Thr Phe Pro 
                 
                     
                 
                                   65                  70                  75 
                 
                   Arg Ser Met His Val His Thr Tyr Phe His Ser Asp Phe Xaa Gln 
                 
                     
                 
                                   80                  85                  90 
                 
                   Asp Val Ser Xaa Glu Ile Xaa Glu Tyr Arg Glu Lys Met Ser Gln 
                 
                     
                 
                                   95                  100                 105 
                 
                   His Val Gly Val Ser Gly Xaa Xaa Xaa Leu Phe Ser Ala Ser Leu 
                 
                     
                 
                                   110                 115                 120 
                 
                   Ser Val Asp Xaa Thr Thr Thr Asp Gln Gln Leu Thr Glu Ile Thr 
                 
                     
                 
                                   125                 130                 135 
                 
                   Tyr Ser Ser Thr Arg Glu Ala His Val Leu Trp Tyr Ile Ser Leu 
                 
                     
                 
                                   140                 145                 150 
                 
                   Pro Gly Ala Ala Thr Leu Arg Ser Met Leu Arg Xaa Xaa Phe Xaa 
                 
                     
                 
                                   155                 160                 165 
                 
                   Xaa Asp Xaa Asn Asn Pro Asn Met Pro Ala Met Xaa Leu Phe Xaa 
                 
                     
                 
                                   170                 175                 180 
                 
                   Xaa Tyr Gly Pro Tyr Xaa Ile Ser Xaa Ala Ala Val Gly Gly Arg 
                 
                     
                 
                                   185                 190                 195 
                 
                   Leu Xaa Tyr Ser Ala Ala Ser Lys Thr Leu Lys Met Asp Ser Ser 
                 
                     
                 
                                   200                 205                 210 
                 
                   Xaa Ser Leu Ser Thr Thr Ala Xaa Met Ser Xaa Lys Ala Leu Val 
                 
                     
                 
                                   215                 220                 225 
                 
                   Gly Glu Ile Lys Ile Xaa His Gly Ser Xaa Met Glu Lys Gln Val 
                 
                     
                 
                                   230                 235                 240 
                 
                   Asn Ser Phe Arg Ser Asn Ser Thr Ile Arg Leu Thr Ala Thr Gly 
                 
                     
                 
                                   245                 250                 255 
                 
                   Gly Lys Pro Gly Met Thr Xaa Arg Ile Leu His Gly Pro Asp Ser 
                 
                     
                 
                                   260                 265                 270 
                 
                   Xaa Xaa Ala Phe Ser Xaa Trp Ala Glu Ser Leu Leu Asp Tyr Ala 
                 
                     
                 
                                   275                 280                 285 
                 
                   Thr Leu Met Asp Phe Ser Thr Xaa Ser Leu Xaa Pro Ile Trp Ala 
                 
                     
                 
                                   290                 295                 300 
                 
                   Leu Ala Asp Xaa Pro Glu Arg Xaa Val Glu Leu Glu Asp Ala Phe 
                 
                     
                 
                                   305                 310                 315 
                 
                   Pro Glu Phe Met Lys Gln Ser Gln Gln Ser Ile Pro Xaa Val Asp 
                 
                     
                 
                                   320                 325                 330 
                 
                   Lys Val Leu Leu Met Asp Ala Arg Pro Pro Met Val Xaa Ala Gly 
                 
                     
                 
                                   335                 340                 345 
                 
                   Glu Asp Xaa Xaa Ser Xaa Ala Xaa Xaa Asp Leu Ala Xaa Phe Asn 
                 
                     
                 
                                   350                 355                 360 
                 
                   Xaa Ser Thr Ser Asn Gly Tyr Lys Met Xaa Gly Gln Phe Xaa Gln 
                 
                     
                 
                                   365                 370                 375 
                 
                   Arg Asn His Ala Ser Val Ala Asp Gly His Ala Pro Ile Phe Lys 
                 
                     
                 
                                   380                 385                 390 
                 
                   Asp Leu Phe Asp Leu Gly Val Leu Lys Ala Pro Val Gly Trp Gln 
                 
                     
                 
                                   395                 400                 405 
                 
                   Xaa Val Trp Asp Asp Xaa Gly Ser Gly Lys Xaa Xaa Xaa Tyr Ala 
                 
                     
                 
                                   410                 415                 420 
                 
                   Cys Trp Arg Ala Ile Xaa Xaa Gln Gly Tyr Xaa Xaa Xaa Gly Asp 
                 
                     
                 
                                   425                 430                 435 
                 
                   Val Met Met Leu Ala Xaa Ser Gly Tyr Asn Pro Pro Asn Leu Pro 
                 
                     
                 
                                   440                 445                 450 
                 
                   Asp Tyr Val Cys Xaa His Gln Ser Leu Cys Ala Xaa Val Gln Thr 
                 
                     
                 
                                   455                 460                 465 
                 
                   Leu Xaa Asn Xaa Xaa Trp Trp Asp Xaa Gly Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa 
                 
                     
                 
                                   470                 475                 480 
                 
                   Asp Val Ser Leu Trp Xaa Pro Gly Ala Ala Gly Ala Val Ala Ser 
                 
                     
                 
                                   485                 490                 495 
                 
                   Ser Cys Phe Ala Gly Val Pro Asn Tyr Asn Asn Pro Pro Asn Ser 
                 
                     
                 
                                   500                 505                 510 
                 
                   Gly Asp Ile Glu Xaa Leu Arg Gly Ser Ile Ala Cys Val Xaa Thr 
                 
                     
                 
                                   515                 520                 525 
                 
                   Ser Ala Ile Ala Ser Met Gln Glu Met Xaa Ser Met Leu Ser Gln 
                 
                     
                 
                                   530                 535 
                 
                   His Xaa Gly Met Glu Ala Met Met Ser Lys Leu, 
                 
             
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
         wherein 
         Xaa at position 2 is Ala or Arg; 
         Xaa at position 24 is Asp or Asn; 
         Xaa at position 42 is Asp or Asn; 
         Xaa at position 43 is Phe or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 46 is Glu or Asn; 
         Xaa at position 74 is Lys, Glu or Gly; 
         Xaa at position 79 is Lys or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 82 is Glu, Ile, Leu or Tyr; 
         Xaa at position 97 is Arg, Asn, Asp, Glu, Gln or Gly; 
         Xaa at position 98 is Tyr or Phe; 
         Xaa at position 99 is Lys, Leu, Tyr, Ile or Met; 
         Xaa at position 109 is Phe, Lys, Gly, Met, Ser, Asp or Asn; 
         Xaa at position 147 is Arg or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 148 is Asp, Phe or Pro; 
         Xaa at position 150 is Arg or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 151 is Asp, Ser, Ala or Asn; 
         Xaa at position 153 is Leu or Ile; 
         Xaa at position 162 is Glu or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 165 is Lys, Glu or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 166 is Arg or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 171 is Tyr or Phe; 
         Xaa at position 174 is Glu or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 182 is Asp or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 196 is Gln, Lys, Asn or Asp; 
         Xaa at position 203 is Glu, Thr or His; 
         Xaa at position 206 is Tyr or Phe; 
         Xaa at position 216 is Glu or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 220 is Glu, His, Asp, Thr, Tyr, Val, Ser or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 247 is Asp or Tyr; 
         Xaa at position 256 is Gln or Lys; 
         Xaa at position 257 is Gln or Ile; 
         Xaa at position 261 is Gln or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 278 is Glu or Asn; 
         Xaa at position 281 is Gln, Lys or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 289 is Lys, Leu, Val, Pro, Glu, Gln, Tyr, Thr or Asp; 
         Xaa at position 293 is Arg, Glu or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 313 is Lys or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 328 is Lys, Glu or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 333 is Ser, Gly, Lys, Val or Asn; 
         Xaa at position 334 is Gly, Arg, Lys or Ile; 
         Xaa at position 336 is Gly or Ala; 
         Xaa at position 338 is Ser, His, Val, Lys or Ala; 
         Xaa at position 339 is Glu, Asn, Ile or Pro; 
         Xaa at position 343 is Val or Ile; 
         Xaa at position 346 is Pro or Ala; 
         Xaa at position 355 is Val or Ile; 
         Xaa at position 359 is Gly or Ala; 
         Xaa at position 391 is Arg, Glu or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 396 is Ala, Leu, Lys, Asn or Gly; 
         Xaa at position 401 is Ser, His, Pro, Gly, Lys, Val or Arg; 
         Xaa at position 402 is Lys, Phe, His, Arg, Gly, Trp, Thr, Asn, Tyr or Met; 
         Xaa at position 403 is Asp or Tyr; 
         Xaa at position 411 is Pro or Ala; 
         Xaa at position 412 is Pro or Ala; 
         Xaa at position 416 is Arg or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 417 is Ala or Ser; 
         Xaa at position 418 is Leu or Met; 
         Xaa at position 426 is Thr or Ser; 
         Xaa at position 440 is Val or Leu; 
         Xaa at position 447 is Asp, Lys, Tyr, Ser, Glu or Ile; 
         Xaa at position 452 is Gln, Lys or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 454 is Arg, Tyr, Met, Ser, Val, Ile, Lys, Phe, Trp or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 455 is Val or Ile; 
         Xaa at position 459 is Lys, Met, Val, Trp, Gln, Ile or Tyr; 
         Xaa at position 461 is Thr or Ser; 
         Xaa at position 462 is Gly or Ala; 
         Xaa at position 463 is Ala or Ser; 
         Xaa at position 464 is Arg, Gly or His; 
         Xaa at position 465 is Lys, Asn, Val, Met, Pro, Gly or Arg; 
         Xaa at position 471 is Gln, Lys or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 500 is Arg or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 509 is Lys or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 520 is Lys, Gln or Glu; and 
         Xaa at position 527 is Gln, Lys, Pro, Cys or Glu; wherein 
         one or more amino acid(s) designated by Xaa in SEQ ID NO: 4 is an amino acid different from the corresponding amino acid of SEQ ID NO: 35 and wherein the PHI-4 polypeptide has increased insecticidal activity compared to SEQ ID NO: 35. 
       
     
     
         4 . The PHI-4 polypeptide of  claim 2  or  3 , further comprising one or more amino acid substitutions at position 86, 359, 399, 464, 465, 466, 467, 468, 499 or 517 of SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 4. 
     
     
         5 . The PHI-4 polypeptide of  claim 4 , wherein the amino acid at position 86 is Glu or Thr; the amino acid at position 359 is Gly or Ala; the amino acid at position 399 is Gly or Ala; the amino acid at position 464 is Arg, Ala, Lys, Asp or Asn; the amino acid at position 465 is Lys or Met, the amino acid at position 467 is Val, Ala, Leu or Thr; the amino acid at position 468 is Ser or Leu; the amino acid at position 499 is Glu or Ala, or the amino acid at position 517 is Glu or Arg. 
     
     
         6 . The PHI-4 polypeptide of  claim 2  or  3 , further comprising one or more amino acid substitution, insertion of one or more amino acids, deletion of one or more amino acids, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The PHI-4 polypeptide of  claim 2  or  3 , wherein the insecticidal activity is increased about 2 fold or greater compared to AXMI-205 (SEQ ID NO: 35). 
     
     
         8 . The PHI-4 polypeptide of  claim 2  or  3 , wherein the insecticidal activity is increased about 5 fold or greater compared to AXMI-205 (SEQ ID NO: 35). 
     
     
         9 . The PHI-4 polypeptide of  claim 2  or  3 , wherein the improved insecticidal activity compared to AXMI-205 (SEQ ID NO: 35) is against Western Corn Root Worm (WCRW) larvae. 
     
     
         10 . The PHI-4 polypeptide of  claim 2  or  3 , wherein the improved insecticidal activity compared to AXMI-205 (SEQ ID NO: 35) is quantitated as a Mean FAE Index. 
     
     
         11 . The PHI-4 polypeptide of  claim 2  or  3 , wherein the improved insecticidal activity compared to AXMI-205 (SEQ ID NO: 35) is quantitated as an EC50 value. 
     
     
         12 . The PHI-4 polypeptide of  claim 2  or  3 , wherein the improved activity compared to AXMI-205 (SEQ ID NO: 35) is quantitated as a Mean Deviation Score. 
     
     
         13 . The PHI-4 polypeptide of  claim 2  or  3 , having 1 to 54 amino acid substitutions at a position(s) designated as Xaa in SEQ ID NO: 3 or 4. 
     
     
         14 . The PHI-4 polypeptide of  claim 2  or  3 , having 1 to 15 amino acid substitutions at a position(s) designated as Xaa in SEQ ID NO: 3 or 4. 
     
     
         15 . The PHI-4 polypeptide of  claim 2  or  3 , wherein 1-20 amino acids are deleted from the C-terminus of the PHI-4 polypeptide. 
     
     
         16 . A polynucleotide encoding a PHI-4 polypeptide, wherein the PHI-4 polypeptide has improved insecticidal activity compared to AXMI-205 (SEQ ID NO: 35). 
     
     
         17 . The polynucleotide encoding a PHI-4 polypeptide of  claim 16 , wherein the PHI-4 polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence of the formula, 
       
         
           
                 
                 
               
                   (SEQ ID NO: 3) 
                     
                 
                                   5                   10                  15 
                     
                 
                   Met Xaa Ser Ala Ala Asn Ala Gly Xaa Leu Gly Asn Leu Xaa Gly 
                 
                     
                 
                                   20                  25                  30 
                 
                   Xaa Thr Ser Xaa Gly Met Xaa Tyr Xaa Val Asn Gly Leu Tyr Ala 
                 
                     
                 
                                   35                  40                  45 
                 
                   Ser Pro Glu Ser Leu Xaa Gly Gln Pro Leu Phe Xaa Xaa Gly Gly 
                 
                     
                 
                                   50                  55                  60 
                 
                   Xaa Leu Asp Ser Xaa Xaa Ile Glu Gly Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Phe Pro 
                 
                     
                 
                                   65                  70                  75 
                 
                   Xaa Ser Met His Val His Thr Tyr Phe His Ser Asp Xaa Xaa Gln 
                 
                     
                 
                                   80                  85                  90 
                 
                   Xaa Val Ser Xaa Xaa Ile Xaa Xaa Xaa Arg Xaa Xaa Xaa Ser Xaa 
                 
                     
                 
                                   95                  100                 105 
                 
                   His Val Gly Xaa Ser Gly Xaa Xaa Xaa Leu Phe Ser Xaa Ser Xaa 
                 
                     
                 
                                   110                 115                 120 
                 
                   Ser Val Asp Xaa Thr Thr Xaa Xaa Gln Gln Leu Xaa Glu Ile Thr 
                 
                     
                 
                                   125                 130                 135 
                 
                   Xaa Ser Ser Thr Arg Glu Xaa His Val Leu Trp Tyr Ile Ser Leu 
                 
                     
                 
                                   140                 145                 150 
                 
                   Pro Gly Ala Ala Thr Leu Xaa Ser Met Leu Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa 
                 
                     
                 
                                   155                 160                 165 
                 
                   Xaa Asp Xaa Xaa Xaa Pro Asn Met Xaa Ala Met Xaa Leu Phe Xaa 
                 
                     
                 
                                   170                 175                 180 
                 
                   Xaa Xaa Gly Pro Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Ala Ala Val Gly Gly Arg 
                 
                     
                 
                                   185                 190                 195 
                 
                   Leu Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Ala Ser Lys Xaa Leu Xaa Met Xaa Ser Ser 
                 
                     
                 
                                   200                 205                 210 
                 
                   Xaa Ser Leu Ser Thr Thr Xaa Xaa Xaa Ser Xaa Xaa Ala Xaa Xaa 
                 
                     
                 
                                   215                 220                 225 
                 
                   Gly Glu Ile Xaa Ile Xaa His Gly Ser Xaa Met Glu Lys Gln Val 
                 
                     
                 
                                   230                 235                 240 
                 
                   Asn Ser Phe Xaa Xaa Xaa Ser Thr Ile Arg Xaa Thr Ala Thr Gly 
                 
                     
                 
                                   245                 250                 255 
                 
                   Gly Lys Pro Gly Xaa Thr Xaa Arg Ile Leu His Gly Pro Asp Ser 
                 
                     
                 
                                   260                 265                 270 
                 
                   Xaa Xaa Ala Phe Ser Xaa Trp Ala Xaa Ser Leu Leu Xaa Tyr Ala 
                 
                     
                 
                                   275                 280                 285 
                 
                   Thr Leu Met Asp Phe Xaa Thr Xaa Ser Leu Xaa Xaa Ile Xaa Ala 
                 
                     
                 
                                   290                 295                 300 
                 
                   Leu Xaa Asp Xaa Pro Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Glu Xaa Xaa Xaa Ala Xaa 
                 
                     
                 
                                   305                 310                 315 
                 
                   Pro Xaa Xaa Met Xaa Xaa Ser Gln Xaa Ser Ile Pro Xaa Val Asp 
                 
                     
                 
                                   320                 325                 330 
                 
                   Xaa Val Leu Leu Met Asp Ala Arg Pro Pro Met Val Xaa Ala Gly 
                 
                     
                 
                                   335                 340                 345 
                 
                   Xaa Asp Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Asp Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa 
                 
                     
                 
                                   350                 355                 360 
                 
                   Xaa Ser Thr Ser Xaa Xaa Tyr Lys Xaa Xaa Gly Gln Phe Xaa Gln 
                 
                     
                 
                                   365                 370                 375 
                 
                   Arg Xaa His Xaa Ser Val Ala Asp Gly His Xaa Pro Ile Xaa Xaa 
                 
                     
                 
                                   380                 385                 390 
                 
                   Asp Leu Phe Asp Xaa Gly Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Pro Val Gly Xaa Gln 
                 
                     
                 
                                   395                 400                 405 
                 
                   Xaa Val Trp Asp Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Gly Lys Xaa Xaa Xaa Tyr Xaa 
                 
                     
                 
                                   410                 415                 420 
                 
                   Cys Trp Arg Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Gln Gly Tyr Xaa Xaa Xaa Gly Asp 
                 
                     
                 
                                   425                 430                 435 
                 
                   Val Xaa Met Leu Ala Xaa Ser Gly Tyr Asn Pro Pro Asn Leu Pro 
                 
                     
                 
                                   440                 445                 450 
                 
                   Xaa Xaa Xaa Cys Xaa His Xaa Ser Leu Xaa Ala Xaa Xaa Xaa Thr 
                 
                     
                 
                                   455                 460                 465 
                 
                   Leu Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Trp Xaa Asp Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa 
                 
                     
                 
                                   470                 475                 480 
                 
                   Xaa Val Ser Leu Trp Xaa Pro Gly Ala Ala Gly Ala Val Ala Ser 
                 
                     
                 
                                   485                 490                 495 
                 
                   Ser Cys Phe Ala Gly Val Pro Asn Tyr Asn Asn Pro Pro Asn Ser 
                 
                     
                 
                                   500                 505                 510 
                 
                   Gly Xaa Ile Xaa Xaa Leu Xaa Gly Ser Ile Ala Cys Val Xaa Thr 
                 
                     
                 
                                   515                 520                 525 
                 
                   Ser Ala Ile Ala Ser Met Xaa Xaa Met Xaa Ser Met Leu Ser Xaa 
                 
                     
                 
                                   530                 535 
                 
                   His Xaa Gly Met Glu Ala Met Met Ser Lys Leu, 
                 
             
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
         wherein 
         Xaa at position 2 is Ala or Arg; 
         Xaa at position 9 is Gln, Lys or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 14 is Pro or Ala; 
         Xaa at position 16 is Val or Asp; 
         Xaa at position 19 is Met or Leu; 
         Xaa at position 22 is Gly or Ser; 
         Xaa at position 24 is Asp, Asn or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 36 is Leu or Met; 
         Xaa at position 42 is Asp, Asn or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 43 is Phe or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 46 is Glu, Asp, Asn or Gly; 
         Xaa at position 50 is Ile or Val; 
         Xaa at position 51 is Glu or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 55 is Arg or Lys; 
         Xaa at position 56 is Ser or Thr; 
         Xaa at position 57 is Tyr or Phe; 
         Xaa at position 58 is Thr or Ser; 
         Xaa at position 61 is Arg, Lys or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 73 is Phe or Tyr; 
         Xaa at position 74 is Lys, Glu, Gly, Arg, Met, Leu, His or Asp; 
         Xaa at position 76 is Asp or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 79 is Lys or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 80 is Glu or Ser; 
         Xaa at position 82 is Glu, Ile, Leu, Tyr or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 83 is Glu or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 84 is Tyr or Phe; 
         Xaa at position 86 is Glu or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 87 is Lys or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 88 is Met, Ile or Leu; 
         Xaa at position 90 is Gln or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 94 is Val or Ile; 
         Xaa at position 97 is Arg, Asn, Asp, Glu, Gln, Gly or Ser; 
         Xaa at position 98 is Tyr or Phe; 
         Xaa at position 99 is Lys, Leu, Tyr, Ile, Met, Phe, Cys, Val or Asn; 
         Xaa at position 103 is Ala or Gly; 
         Xaa at position 105 is Leu or Ile; 
         Xaa at position 109 is Phe, Lys, Gly, Met, Ser, Asp, Asn, Glu, Cys, Ala or Arg; 
         Xaa at position 112 is Thr or Ser; 
         Xaa at position 113 is Asp, Glu or Met; 
         Xaa at position 117 is Thr or Ser; 
         Xaa at position 121 is Tyr or Phe; 
         Xaa at position 127 is Ala or Thr; 
         Xaa at position 142 is Arg or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 146 is Arg or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 147 is Arg, Glu or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 148 is Asp, Phe, Pro, Val, Glu, His, Trp, Ala, Arg, Leu, Ser, Gln or Gly; 
         Xaa at position 149 is Phe or Val; 
         Xaa at position 150 is Arg, Gln or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 151 is Asp, Ser, Ala, Asn, Trp, Val, Gln, Cys, Met, Leu, Arg or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 153 is Leu or Ile; 
         Xaa at position 154 is Asn or Asp; 
         Xaa at position 155 is Asn or Lys; 
         Xaa at position 159 is Pro or Asp; 
         Xaa at position 162 is Glu, Asp or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 165 is Lys, Glu, Gln, Pro, Thr, Ala, Leu, Gly, Asp, Val, His, Ile, Met, Trp, Phe, Tyr or Arg; 
         Xaa at position 166 is Arg or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 167 is Tyr, Trp or Cys; 
         Xaa at position 170 is Tyr or His; 
         Xaa at position 171 is Tyr or Phe; 
         Xaa at position 172 is Ile, Leu or Val; 
         Xaa at position 173 is Ser or Ala; 
         Xaa at position 174 is Glu or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 182 is Asp or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 183 is Tyr or Val; 
         Xaa at position 184 is Ser or Thr; 
         Xaa at position 185 is Ala or Ser; 
         Xaa at position 189 is Thr, Lys or Ile; 
         Xaa at position 191 is Lys or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 193 is Asp or Asn; 
         Xaa at position 196 is Gln, Lys, Asn, Asp, Glu, Ala, Ile or Arg; 
         Xaa at position 202 is Ala or Val; 
         Xaa at position 203 is Glu, Thr or His; 
         Xaa at position 204 is Met or Ala; 
         Xaa at position 206 is Tyr or Phe; 
         Xaa at position 207 is Lys or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 209 is Leu or Pro; 
         Xaa at position 210 is Val or Ile; 
         Xaa at position 214 is Lys, Ser or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 216 is Glu, Gln, Phe, Val, Tyr or Arg; 
         Xaa at position 220 is Glu, His, Asp, Thr, Tyr, Val, Ser, Gln, Arg, Trp, Met, Ala, Phe, Ile, Leu, Cys or Asn; 
         Xaa at position 229 is Arg or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 230 is Ser or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 231 is Asn or Ser; 
         Xaa at position 236 is Leu or Pro; 
         Xaa at position 245 is Met or Leu; 
         Xaa at position 247 is Asp or Tyr; 
         Xaa at position 256 is Gln, Lys or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 257 is Gln, Ile, Glu, Cys, Ser, His, Trp or Met; 
         Xaa at position 261 is Gln, Glu or Lys; 
         Xaa at position 264 is Glu or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 268 is Asp or Asn; 
         Xaa at position 276 is Ser or Ala; 
         Xaa at position 278 is Glu, Asn or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 281 is Gln, Lys or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 282 is Pro or Gly; 
         Xaa at position 284 is Trp or Arg; 
         Xaa at position 287 is Ala or Cys; 
         Xaa at position 289 is Lys, Leu, Val, Pro, Glu, Gln, Tyr, Thr, Asp, Phe, Ser, Met, Arg, Trp, Ile, His, Asn, Cys, Gly or Ala; 
         Xaa at position 291 is Glu or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 292 is Arg or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 293 is Arg, Glu or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 294 is Val or Ala; 
         Xaa at position 296 is Leu or Ile; 
         Xaa at position 297 is Glu or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 298 is Asp or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 300 is Phe or Tyr; 
         Xaa at position 302 is Glu or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 303 is Phe or Tyr; 
         Xaa at position 305 is Lys or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 306 is Gln or Lys; 
         Xaa at position 309 is Gln, Lys or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 313 is Lys, Gln or Arg; 
         Xaa at position 316 is Lys or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 328 is Lys, Glu or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 331 is Glu, Asn or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 333 is Ser, Arg, Gly, Lys, Val, Asn, Ala, His, Gln, Thr, Asp, Ile, Leu, Cys or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 334 is Gly, Arg, Lys, Ile or Trp; 
         Xaa at position 335 is Ser or Ala; 
         Xaa at position 336 is Gly or Ala; 
         Xaa at position 337 is Ala, Val or Gly; 
         Xaa at position 338 is Ser, His, Val, Lys, Ala, Gly, Thr, Ile, Glu, Met, Arg, Pro, Asp, Asn or Leu; 
         Xaa at position 339 is Glu, Asn, Gln, Ile, Pro, Met, Ser, Ala, Cys, Phe, Val, Leu, Asp, Trp, His or Arg; 
         Xaa at position 341 is Leu or Val; 
         Xaa at position 342 is Ala, Ser or Val; 
         Xaa at position 343 is Val or Ile; 
         Xaa at position 344 is Phe or Trp; 
         Xaa at position 345 is Asn or His; 
         Xaa at position 346 is Pro or Ala; 
         Xaa at position 350 is Asn or Ser; 
         Xaa at position 351 is Gly or Val; 
         Xaa at position 354 is Met or Leu; 
         Xaa at position 355 is Val, Ile or Leu; 
         Xaa at position 359 is Gly or Ala; 
         Xaa at position 362 is Asn or Ser; 
         Xaa at position 364 is Ala or Ser; 
         Xaa at position 371 is Ala, Gly or Thr; 
         Xaa at position 374 is Phe or Ile; 
         Xaa at position 375 is Lys or Arg; 
         Xaa at position 380 is Leu or Gly; 
         Xaa at position 382 is Val, Asp or Leu; 
         Xaa at position 383 is Leu, Ile or Val; 
         Xaa at position 384 is Lys, Ala or Gly; 
         Xaa at position 385 is Ala or Gly; 
         Xaa at position 389 is Trp or Tyr; 
         Xaa at position 391 is Arg, Leu, Glu, Gln or Asp; 
         Xaa at position 395 is Asp or Cys; 
         Xaa at position 396 is Ala, Leu, Lys, Asn, Gly, Ile, Met, Arg, Tyr, Gln or His; 
         Xaa at position 397 is Gly, Arg or Ala; 
         Xaa at position 398 is Ser, Gln or Cys; 
         Xaa at position 401 is Ser, His, Pro, Gly, Lys, Val, Arg, Ile, Asn, Phe, Thr, Ala, Asp, Met, Gln or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 402 is Lys, Phe, His, Arg, Trp, Gly, Asn, Leu, Tyr, Thr, Val, Met, Pro or Ala; 
         Xaa at position 403 is Asp, Tyr, Trp, Phe or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 405 is Ala or Ser; 
         Xaa at position 409 is Ala or Pro; 
         Xaa at position 410 is Ile or Val; 
         Xaa at position 411 is Pro or Ala; 
         Xaa at position 412 is Pro or Ala; 
         Xaa at position 416 is Arg, Glu or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 417 is Ala, Ser or Cys; 
         Xaa at position 418 is Leu or Met; 
         Xaa at position 422 is Met or Val; 
         Xaa at position 426 is Thr or Ser; 
         Xaa at position 436 is Asp or Lys; 
         Xaa at position 437 is Tyr or Val; 
         Xaa at position 438 is Val or Arg; 
         Xaa at position 440 is Val or Leu; 
         Xaa at position 442 is Gln, Lys or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 445 is Cys, Leu or Thr; 
         Xaa at position 447 is Asp, Lys, Tyr, Ser, Glu, Ile, Gly, Pro, Leu, Phe, Trp or Thr; 
         Xaa at position 448 is Val or Ala; 
         Xaa at position 449 is Gln or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 452 is Gln, Lys or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 453 is Asn or Asp; 
         Xaa at position 454 is Arg, Tyr, Met, Ser, Val, Ile, Lys, Phe, Trp, Gln, Gly, His, Asp, Leu, Thr, Pro or Asn; 
         Xaa at position 455 is Val or Ile; 
         Xaa at position 457 is Trp or Asn; 
         Xaa at position 459 is Lys, Met, Val, Trp, Gln, Ile, Thr, Ser, His, Cys, Tyr, Pro, Asn, Ala, Arg or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 460 is Gly or Ala; 
         Xaa at position 461 is Thr or Ser; 
         Xaa at position 462 is Gly or Ala; 
         Xaa at position 463 is Ala, Ser or Gly; 
         Xaa at position 464 is Arg, Gly, His, Gln, Thr or Phe; 
         Xaa at position 465 is Lys, Asn, Val, Met, Pro, Gly, Arg, Thr, His, Cys, Trp, Phe or Leu; 
         Xaa at position 466 is Asp or Arg; 
         Xaa at position 471 is Gln, Lys or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 497 is Asp or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 499 is Glu or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 500 is Arg, Gln or Lys; 
         Xaa at position 502 is Arg, Glu or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 509 is Lys, Gln or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 517 is Gln, Cys, Asn, Val or Pro; 
         Xaa at position 518 is Glu or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 520 is Lys, Gln or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 525 is Gln or Lys; and 
         Xaa at position 527 is Gln, Lys, Pro, Cys, Glu, Ser, His, Phe or Trp; wherein one or more amino acid(s) designated by Xaa in SEQ ID NO: 3 is an amino acid different from the corresponding amino acid of SEQ ID NO: 35 and wherein the PHI-4 polypeptide has increased insecticidal activity compared to SEQ ID NO: 35. 
       
     
     
         18 . The polynucleotide encoding a PHI-4 polypeptide of  claim 16 , wherein the PHI-4 polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence of the formula, 
       
         
           
                 
                 
               
                   (SEQ ID NO: 4) 
                     
                 
                                   5                   10                  15 
                     
                 
                   Met Xaa Ser Ala Ala Asn Ala Gly Gln Leu Gly Asn Leu Pro Gly 
                 
                     
                 
                                   20                  25                  30 
                 
                   Val Thr Ser Met Gly Met Gly Tyr Xaa Val Asn Gly Leu Tyr Ala 
                 
                     
                 
                                   35                  40                  45 
                 
                   Ser Pro Glu Ser Leu Leu Gly Gln Pro Leu Phe Xaa Xaa Gly Gly 
                 
                     
                 
                                   50                  55                  60 
                 
                   Xaa Leu Asp Ser Ile Glu Ile Glu Gly Arg Ser Tyr Thr Phe Pro 
                 
                     
                 
                                   65                  70                  75 
                 
                   Arg Ser Met His Val His Thr Tyr Phe His Ser Asp Phe Xaa Gln 
                 
                     
                 
                                   80                  85                  90 
                 
                   Asp Val Ser Xaa Glu Ile Xaa Glu Tyr Arg Glu Lys Met Ser Gln 
                 
                     
                 
                                   95                  100                 105 
                 
                   His Val Gly Val Ser Gly Xaa Xaa Xaa Leu Phe Ser Ala Ser Leu 
                 
                     
                 
                                   110                 115                 120 
                 
                   Ser Val Asp Xaa Thr Thr Thr Asp Gln Gln Leu Thr Glu Ile Thr 
                 
                     
                 
                                   125                 130                 135 
                 
                   Tyr Ser Ser Thr Arg Glu Ala His Val Leu Trp Tyr Ile Ser Leu 
                 
                     
                 
                                   140                 145                 150 
                 
                   Pro Gly Ala Ala Thr Leu Arg Ser Met Leu Arg Xaa Xaa Phe Xaa 
                 
                     
                 
                                   155                 160                 165 
                 
                   Xaa Asp Xaa Asn Asn Pro Asn Met Pro Ala Met Xaa Leu Phe Xaa 
                 
                     
                 
                                   170                 175                 180 
                 
                   Xaa Tyr Gly Pro Tyr Xaa Ile Ser Xaa Ala Ala Val Gly Gly Arg 
                 
                     
                 
                                   185                 190                 195 
                 
                   Leu Xaa Tyr Ser Ala Ala Ser Lys Thr Leu Lys Met Asp Ser Ser 
                 
                     
                 
                                   200                 205                 210 
                 
                   Xaa Ser Leu Ser Thr Thr Ala Xaa Met Ser Xaa Lys Ala Leu Val 
                 
                     
                 
                                   215                 220                 225 
                 
                   Gly Glu Ile Lys Ile Xaa His Gly Ser Xaa Met Glu Lys Gln Val 
                 
                     
                 
                                   230                 235                 240 
                 
                   Asn Ser Phe Arg Ser Asn Ser Thr Ile Arg Leu Thr Ala Thr Gly 
                 
                     
                 
                                   245                 250                 255 
                 
                   Gly Lys Pro Gly Met Thr Xaa Arg Ile Leu His Gly Pro Asp Ser 
                 
                     
                 
                                   260                 265                 270 
                 
                   Xaa Xaa Ala Phe Ser Xaa Trp Ala Glu Ser Leu Leu Asp Tyr Ala 
                 
                     
                 
                                   275                 280                 285 
                 
                   Thr Leu Met Asp Phe Ser Thr Xaa Ser Leu Xaa Pro Ile Trp Ala 
                 
                     
                 
                                   290                 295                 300 
                 
                   Leu Ala Asp Xaa Pro Glu Arg Xaa Val Glu Leu Glu Asp Ala Phe 
                 
                     
                 
                                   305                 310                 315 
                 
                   Pro Glu Phe Met Lys Gln Ser Gln Gln Ser Ile Pro Xaa Val Asp 
                 
                     
                 
                                   320                 325                 330 
                 
                   Lys Val Leu Leu Met Asp Ala Arg Pro Pro Met Val Xaa Ala Gly 
                 
                     
                 
                                   335                 340                 345 
                 
                   Glu Asp Xaa Xaa Ser Xaa Ala Xaa Xaa Asp Leu Ala Xaa Phe Asn 
                 
                     
                 
                                   350                 355                 360 
                 
                   Xaa Ser Thr Ser Asn Gly Tyr Lys Met Xaa Gly Gln Phe Xaa Gln 
                 
                     
                 
                                   365                 370                 375 
                 
                   Arg Asn His Ala Ser Val Ala Asp Gly His Ala Pro Ile Phe Lys 
                 
                     
                 
                                   380                 385                 390 
                 
                   Asp Leu Phe Asp Leu Gly Val Leu Lys Ala Pro Val Gly Trp Gln 
                 
                     
                 
                                   395                 400                 405 
                 
                   Xaa Val Trp Asp Asp Xaa Gly Ser Gly Lys Xaa Xaa Xaa Tyr Ala 
                 
                     
                 
                                   410                 415                 420 
                 
                   Cys Trp Arg Ala Ile Xaa Xaa Gln Gly Tyr Xaa Xaa Xaa Gly Asp 
                 
                     
                 
                                   425                 430                 435 
                 
                   Val Met Met Leu Ala Xaa Ser Gly Tyr Asn Pro Pro Asn Leu Pro 
                 
                     
                 
                                   440                 445                 450 
                 
                   Asp Tyr Val Cys Xaa His Gln Ser Leu Cys Ala Xaa Val Gln Thr 
                 
                     
                 
                                   455                 460                 465 
                 
                   Leu Xaa Asn Xaa Xaa Trp Trp Asp Xaa Gly Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa Xaa 
                 
                     
                 
                                   470                 475                 480 
                 
                   Asp Val Ser Leu Trp Xaa Pro Gly Ala Ala Gly Ala Val Ala Ser 
                 
                     
                 
                                   485                 490                 495 
                 
                   Ser Cys Phe Ala Gly Val Pro Asn Tyr Asn Asn Pro Pro Asn Ser 
                 
                     
                 
                                   500                 505                 510 
                 
                   Gly Asp Ile Glu Xaa Leu Arg Gly Ser Ile Ala Cys Val Xaa Thr 
                 
                     
                 
                                   515                 520                 525 
                 
                   Ser Ala Ile Ala Ser Met Gln Glu Met Xaa Ser Met Leu Ser Gln 
                 
                     
                 
                                   530                 535 
                 
                   His Xaa Gly Met Glu Ala Met Met Ser Lys Leu, 
                 
             
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
         wherein 
         Xaa at position 2 is Ala or Arg; 
         Xaa at position 24 is Asp or Asn; 
         Xaa at position 42 is Asp or Asn; 
         Xaa at position 43 is Phe or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 46 is Glu or Asn; 
         Xaa at position 74 is Lys, Glu or Gly; 
         Xaa at position 79 is Lys or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 82 is Glu, Ile, Leu or Tyr; 
         Xaa at position 97 is Arg, Asn, Asp, Glu, Gln or Gly; 
         Xaa at position 98 is Tyr or Phe; 
         Xaa at position 99 is Lys, Leu, Tyr, Ile or Met; 
         Xaa at position 109 is Phe, Lys, Gly, Met, Ser, Asp or Asn; 
         Xaa at position 147 is Arg or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 148 is Asp, Phe or Pro; 
         Xaa at position 150 is Arg or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 151 is Asp, Ser, Ala or Asn; 
         Xaa at position 153 is Leu or Ile; 
         Xaa at position 162 is Glu or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 165 is Lys, Glu or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 166 is Arg or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 171 is Tyr or Phe; 
         Xaa at position 174 is Glu or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 182 is Asp or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 196 is Gln, Lys, Asn or Asp; 
         Xaa at position 203 is Glu, Thr or His; 
         Xaa at position 206 is Tyr or Phe; 
         Xaa at position 216 is Glu or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 220 is Glu, His, Asp, Thr, Tyr, Val, Ser or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 247 is Asp or Tyr; 
         Xaa at position 256 is Gln or Lys; 
         Xaa at position 257 is Gln or Ile; 
         Xaa at position 261 is Gln or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 278 is Glu or Asn; 
         Xaa at position 281 is Gln, Lys or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 289 is Lys, Leu, Val, Pro, Glu, Gln, Tyr, Thr or Asp; 
         Xaa at position 293 is Arg, Glu or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 313 is Lys or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 328 is Lys, Glu or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 333 is Ser, Gly, Lys, Val or Asn; 
         Xaa at position 334 is Gly, Arg, Lys or Ile; 
         Xaa at position 336 is Gly or Ala; 
         Xaa at position 338 is Ser, His, Val, Lys or Ala; 
         Xaa at position 339 is Glu, Asn, Ile or Pro; 
         Xaa at position 343 is Val or Ile; 
         Xaa at position 346 is Pro or Ala; 
         Xaa at position 355 is Val or Ile; 
         Xaa at position 359 is Gly or Ala; 
         Xaa at position 391 is Arg, Glu or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 396 is Ala, Leu, Lys, Asn or Gly; 
         Xaa at position 401 is Ser, His, Pro, Gly, Lys, Val or Arg; 
         Xaa at position 402 is Lys, Phe, His, Arg, Gly, Trp, Thr, Asn, Tyr or Met; 
         Xaa at position 403 is Asp or Tyr; 
         Xaa at position 411 is Pro or Ala; 
         Xaa at position 412 is Pro or Ala; 
         Xaa at position 416 is Arg or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 417 is Ala or Ser; 
         Xaa at position 418 is Leu or Met; 
         Xaa at position 426 is Thr or Ser; 
         Xaa at position 440 is Val or Leu; 
         Xaa at position 447 is Asp, Lys, Tyr, Ser, Glu or Ile; 
         Xaa at position 452 is Gln, Lys or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 454 is Arg, Tyr, Met, Ser, Val, Ile, Lys, Phe, Trp or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 455 is Val or Ile; 
         Xaa at position 459 is Lys, Met, Val, Trp, Gln, Ile or Tyr; 
         Xaa at position 461 is Thr or Ser; 
         Xaa at position 462 is Gly or Ala; 
         Xaa at position 463 is Ala or Ser; 
         Xaa at position 464 is Arg, Gly or His; 
         Xaa at position 465 is Lys, Asn, Val, Met, Pro, Gly or Arg; 
         Xaa at position 471 is Gln, Lys or Glu; 
         Xaa at position 500 is Arg or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 509 is Lys or Gln; 
         Xaa at position 520 is Lys, Gln or Glu; and 
         Xaa at position 527 is Gln, Lys, Pro, Cys or Glu; wherein 
         one or more amino acid(s) designated by Xaa in SEQ ID NO: 4 is an amino acid different from the corresponding amino acid of SEQ ID NO: 35 and wherein the PHI-4 polypeptide has increased insecticidal activity compared to SEQ ID NO: 35. 
       
     
     
         19 . The polynucleotide of  claim 17  or  18 , wherein the PHI-4 polypeptide further comprises one or more amino acid substitutions at position 86, 359, 399, 464, 465, 466, 467, 468, 499 or 517 of SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 4. 
     
     
         20 . The polynucleotide of  claim 19 , wherein in the PHI-4 polypeptide the amino acid at position 86 is Glu or Thr; the amino acid at position 359 is Gly or Ala; the amino acid at position 399 is Gly or Ala; the amino acid at position 464 is Arg, Ala, Lys, Asp or Asn; the amino acid at position 465 is Lys or Met, the amino acid at position 467 is Val, Ala, Leu or Thr; the amino acid at position 468 is Ser or Leu; the amino acid at position 499 is Glu or Ala, or the amino acid at position 517 is Glu or Arg. 
     
     
         21 . The polynucleotide of  claim 17  or  18 , wherein the PHI-4 polypeptide further comprises one or more amino acid substitution, insertion of one or more amino acids, deletion of one or more amino acids, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The polynucleotide of  claim 17  or  18 , wherein the insecticidal activity of the PHI-4 polypeptide is increased about 2 fold or greater compared to AXMI-205 (SEQ ID NO: 35). 
     
     
         23 . The polynucleotide of  claim 17  or  18 , wherein the insecticidal activity of the PHI-4 polypeptide is increased about 5 fold or greater compared to AXMI-205 (SEQ ID NO: 35). 
     
     
         24 . A composition, comprising an insecticidally-effective amount of the PHI-4 polypeptide of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         25 . A method of inhibiting growth or killing an insect pest, comprising contacting the insect pest with the composition of  claim 24 . 
     
     
         26 . A method for controlling an insect pest population resistant to a pesticidal protein, comprising contacting the resistant insect pest population with the composition of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         27 . The method of controlling an insect pest population resistant to an pesticidal protein of  claim 1 , wherein the pesticidal protein is selected from Cry1Ac, Cry1Ab, Cry1A.105, Cry1Ac, Cry1F, Cry1Fa2, Cry1F, Cry2Ab, Cry3A, mCry3A, Cry3Bb1, Cry34Ab1, Cry35Ab1, Vip3A, Cry9c, eCry3.1Ab and CBI-Bt. 
     
     
         28 . A transgenic plant or progeny thereof, comprising the polynucleotide of  claim 16 . 
     
     
         29 . The transgenic plant or progeny thereof of  claim 28 , wherein the transgenic plant is a monocotyledon. 
     
     
         30 . The transgenic plant or progeny thereof of  claim 29 , further comprising one or more additional transgenic traits. 
     
     
         31 . Seed, grain or processed product thereof of the transgenic plant of  claim 28 , wherein the seed, grain, or processed product thereof comprises the polynucleotide of any one of  claim 16 . 
     
     
         32 . An expression cassette, comprising the polynucleotide of  claim 16  operably linked to one or more regulatory sequences directing expression of the PHI-4 polypeptide. 
     
     
         33 . A transgenic plant or plant cell, comprising the expression cassette of  claim 32 . 
     
     
         34 . A method for protecting a plant from an insect pest, comprising expressing in the plant or cell thereof, an insecticidally-effective amount of the PHI-4 polypeptide of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         35 . A method for controlling an insect pest population, comprising contacting the insect pest population with an insecticidally-effective amount of the PHI-4 polypeptide of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         36 . A method of inhibiting growth or killing an insect pest, comprising contacting the insect pest with a composition comprising an insecticidally-effective amount of the the PHI-4 polypeptide of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         37 . A method for controlling an insect pest population resistant to a pesticidal protein, comprising contacting the insect pest population with an insecticidally-effective amount of the PHI-4 polypeptide of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         38 . A fusion protein comprising the PHI-4 polypeptide of  claim 1 .

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